Method and machine for making folding boxes



May 13, 1941. M. H. slDEEo-rHAM METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FOLDING BOXES Filed Feb. 13, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllVlllI LvlL Wwf?? May 13, 1941. M. H. slDEBoTHAM 2,241,678

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FOLDING BOXES Filed Feb. 13, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mly 13 394i M. H. SIDEBOTHAM 2,241,673

METHOD AND MACHINE EOE MAKING FOLDING" BoxEs 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 13, 1939 im @l bw Rw May 13, 1941- M. H. slDEBoTHAM 2,241,678

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING' FOLDING BOXES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 13, 1939 May 13, 1941. M. H. SIDEBOTHAM METHOD AND MACHINEl FOR MAKING FOLDING BOXES Filed Feb. 13, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 13, 1941. M. H. slDEBoTHAM MEIHoD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FOLDING BoxDs A e sheets-sheet s Filed Feb. l5. 1939 Patented May 13, 1941 METHOD AND MACHINE FO-R MAKING FOLDING BOXES Melvin H. Sidebotham, Newton, Mass., assignor of one-half to Harlow M. Russell, Chelsea, Mass.

Application February 13, 1939, Serial No. 256,030

11 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture byY automatic machinery ofboxes of the type commonly known as knock-down or wall boxes which are furnished to the trade in flat or co1- lapsed condition for the purpose of saving space in stock rooms and in stores where they are to be used, and also for, saving transportation costs. Such boxes are easily opened or set up as they are needed for use, and when set up have upright walls. Boxes of this type are used for innumerable packaging and wrapping purposes in commerce and industry.

This present invention includes improvements over the method and machine disclosed and claimed in United States Patent No. 1,488,756 issued April 1, 1924, to Leon E. LaBombard and Melvin H. Sidebotham; the present applicant, Melvin H. Sidebotham, being a joint patentee of said patent. The machine herein disclosed represents a. decided improvement over machines heretofore produced, in that it is simpler to construct, is adaptable to easier and quicker adjustment, and provides for higher machine speeds which results in greater efficiency in the production of boxes.

One object of this invention is to provide a simple and accurate method for infolding and doubling the wall areas of boxes of the type which have the four walls thereof folded inwardly and lie parallel with the bottom of the box when the boxv is in flat folded condition.

Another objectof my invention is to provide a mechanism capable of being run at higher speeds and more simple in construction and operation than the machines heretofore produced.

Other more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, and wherein:

Figure 1 isa side elevation of the feed end of the machine.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the feed end of the machine.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the delivery end of the machine. Y

Figure 4 is a plan View of the delivery end of the machine.

Figure 5 is an enlarged partial section at 5-5 of Figure 6.

Figure 6 is an enlarged elevation of the machine at the side wallfolding station.

Figure 7 is an enlarged plan View of that portion of the machine shown in Figure 6.

Figure`8 is a plan viewof ablank on which the machine operates to produce a box in flat folded condition.

Figure 9 is an edge view of the b-lank shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a plan View of the blank after the first folding operation has been performed.

Figure 11 is an elevation of Figure 10.v

Figure l2 is a plan view of the blankafter the infolding and doubling operation has been partly performed on ythe side wall areas of the blank.

Figure 13 is an elevation of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a plan View of the blank showing its'condi'tion after the completion of the side wall infolding operation, and the doubling of side wall end sections.

Figure 15 is an elevation of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a plan view of the blank after the corner sections of .the blank have been folded against the end wall sections.

Figure 17 is a front edge view of the blank in the condition shown by Figure 16.

Figure 18 is the same as Figure 16 except that areas are shown to which adhesive may be applied in the method of producing the box.

Figure 19 is a plan View showing Ithe completed box in flat folded condition. Y

Figure 20 is a front edge View of the box in flat folded condition.

Figure 21 is a plan view of the box after the Walls thereof have been unfolded to provide a box set up ready for use.

Figure 22 is a front View of Figure 21.

Figure 23 is an end view of Figure 22.

The accompanying drawings are in some respects diagrammatic and a minimum of mechanical parts are shown in order .to more clearly describe what is believed to be new and novel subject matter of my invention. In practice it will be desirable vto provide adjustment devices for producing boxes of different sizes, but as such devices are known to the art, applicant has omitted their description from the drawings.

It is to be understood that the drawings are illustrative of the 4invention rather than limiting the same. A

It will aid toward an understanding of the operation of the' machine and of the method of fabricating the box, 'to rst explain the operations performed by the machine which effects the production of the completed box in knockdown condition from a. cut and scored paper blank. Figure 8 illustrates the cut and scored blank wherein scored lines are indicated by dotted lines marked g, h, i, 1c, n and o, cut lines being shown as full lines marked m and p. The said cut lines and scored lines effect a division of the blank to form a bottom section a, sideI Walls b and c, side Wall end sections r, end walls d and e, and corner sections f. Figures and 11 illustrate the condition of the box blank after opposite margins have been folded upward at right angles to the bottom area. Figures 12 and 13 illustrate the condition of the blank at the midpoint of the operation of infolding the side Walls b and c, and the doubling of side wall end sections r against the said side walls. Figures 14 and 15 illustrate the condition of the blank at the completion of the operation of infolding the side Walls and doubling the side wall end sections against the side Walls. Figures 16 and 17 illustrate the condition of the blank after the corner sections f have been folded against the end walls. Figure 18 shows the areas to which adhesive may be applied for securing the corner sections f to the corresponding side wall end sections r. The end Walls d and e are then folded inwardly on scored lines i and k causing the corner sections f to contact corresponding side Wall end sections r, to complete the box in c'ollapsed condition.

The boxes are set up for use by simply raising the side walls b and c (Figure 19), with the result that the side Wall end sections r unfold, causing the corner sections f to unfold and be drawn against the inside end areas of the side walls.

Referring to Figures 2 and 4, these two figures, taken together, indicate a plan view of the entire machine. The upper left hand portion of Figure 4 duplicates parts shown at the right hand end of Figure 2 to render it clear that Vthe parts of the machine shown in the two figures operate at an angle to each other. In said Figures-2 and 4 some of the positions of the blanks are indicated by dotted lines where the dotted numerals 8, Il), I2, III, I6, I8 and I9 appear..

Those dotted numerals are employed because at those stations of the machine the blanks are in substantially the condition shown in Figures 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 19 inclusive. In 'other words, each blank when it reaches I0 (Fig. 2) is in the condition shown in Figure 10; 'when it reaches position I2 it is substantially as shown by Figure 12; and so on until 'when it reaches position I9 (Fig. 4) the box is substantially as shown by Figure 19.

The timing is such that when the machine is in operation, different parts of the machine are operating simultaneously on blanks which are spaced about as indicated by the dotted line indications of the blank in Figures 2 and 4. In other words, While one part of the machine is performing an operation on one blank other parts of the machine are at the same time performing other operations on other blanks, all of said blanks following on'e another progressively through the machine and are delivered therefrom as complete boxes in collapsed condition as shown in Figures 19 and 20.

The support for the machine 'consists of a frame I (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4), suitable bearings being provided in the said frame for attaching the different mechanisms thereto.

A stack of blanks 3 (Fig. 2) which have been shaped, creased and cut, as indicated in Figure 8 and more fully described above, may be cut and scored by any of the Well known methods in common use in the art. Blanks from the stack 3 on table 2 are delivered singly and successively to conveyor belt 6 by feed belt 4 driven by rolls 5 journaled in frame I. The conveyor belt 6 is supported and driven by rolls 'I and 8 mounted on shafts 9 and II) journaled in frame I. The blanks are advanced by conveyor belt 6 to folder bars I2 supported by brackets I3 and I4 secured to frame I. Guide bars II serve to guide the blanks and to hold them in Contact with the conveyor belt 6 as the blanks are advanced. The said guide bars II are each supported at one end by feed table 2 and at the other end by pulley bracket 29 secured to frame I. When a box blank reaches the position indicated by the dotted outline of the blank marked by dotted numeral I0 in Figure 2, opposite margins of the blank have been folded to vertical position by contact with the folder bars I2, resulting in the blank being in the condition illustrated by Figures 10 and 11.

The blank is then advanced by conveyor belt 6 to the infolding unit, the opposite margins of the blank being maintained in vertical position by folder bars I2 and side bars I6 and IBa secured to angle members I5 which are supported by brackets I4 and 21.

A guide belt I1 (Figs. 1 and 6) is provided to aid in advancing the blanks to and away from the infolding mechanism; said guide belt I1 being of the endless type, and driven -by pulley I8 mounted on shaft I9 journaled in bearings 20 secured to guide bars II. The guide belt I1 traveling in a counterclockwise direction passes from pulley I8 to pulleys 30, 3l, 32 and 33; pulleys 36 and 3I being journaled in bracket 28 which is secured to frame I. Pulleys -32 and 33 are journaled in bracket 2-3 which is also Ysecured to frame I. The belt then passes over pulley 24 secured to shaft 25 journaled in bearing 28 secured to guide bars III. Top pulley 2l secured to shaft 22 journaled in frame I serves to guide the belt back to pulley I8'.

The dotted numerals I2 andY I4 shown in Figure 2 indicate the position in the ymachine at which the .inf-olding operation takes place. Figures 12, 13, 14 and. 15 illustrate the result of the action of the machine in infolding the side walls and doubling over the end sections of the side walls. In the operation of the infolding mechanism, the blank, With opposite margins folded to vertical position as illustrated by Figures 10 and 11, arrives at the infoldingwstation indicated by dotte'd. numerals IZLandM shown on Figure 2. It will. be noted that the side Walls b and c of theblank Will lie parallel with and against folded plates 40 (Figs. 5, 6 and 7). Each of said folder plates 40 hasits diagonal end edges adjacent to the crease lines n, and o of the blank. Said folder plates 40 are designed to operate from a vertical position toward each other to an approximately horizontal position and then back again to a vertical position. Each folder plate is provided with a pair of tension springs 42, each spring having one end secured to a lower portion of the corresponding folder plate and its other end secured to an eye bolt 43 secured to angle member I6. Said springs 42 serve to hold the bottom edge of the folder plates 40 against plate stop 4I which is secured to angle member I5. Connecting bars 39 serve to link the folder plates 40 with the corresponding operating lever 31 pivoted on pins 38 secured to brackets 38a secured to yframe I. Said operatingA lever 31 is provided with a cam follower 31a which operates in groove '36 of the cam 35 secured to shaft 34 `iournaled in frame I. It will be apparent that with the rotation of shaft 34 the cams 35 will be caused to rotate, and each cam groove 36 will cause the corresponding cam follower 31a to move first toward the center of the machine and then away from it with each revolution of the cam 35. The movement of each cam follower 31a results in the upper end of the corresponding lever 31 being moved toward and away from the center of the machine. It will be obvious that the connecting links 39 will cause each folding plate 40 to pivot toward the center of the machine. Each folder plate pivots at the plate stop 4 I. The inward movement of folder plates 45 bends inward the wall areas b and c of the blank.

In folding, or bending inward, the side wall areas, the scored lines n and o are broken by contact with the diagonal edges of folder arms 44.- Said folder arms 44 are secured to pulley brackets 28 and 29 by means of bolts 54 (Fig. 6). The folder arms 44 being stationary, the movement of the folder plates 40 draws the side wall end sections of the blank across the diagonal ends of said folder arms 44, with the result that at the mid-point of this operation the blank is in the condition illustrated by Figures 12 and 13. The folder plates 40 then return to vertical positions.

Former yokes 45 each comprise two blades which straddle the corresponding folder arms 44 and descend upon the blank to firmly press the side wall end sections against the side walls and to press the side walls against the bottom of the blank. Said former yokes 45 operate up and down at predetermined intervals and are slidably secured to hangers 46 mounted on bar 48 secured to bearings 49 on frame I. A slot 41 (Fig. 6) is pro-vided in each of the hangers 46 for operatively engaging rod 52 which is secured to former yokes 45. Levers 50, each having one of its ends operatively engaging pin 52 and its other end secured to shaft I journaled in frame I, serve to operate the former yokes 45. By turning shaft 5I the opposite ends of the levers 53 are caused to travel up and down, thus vertically operating rod 52 which is connected with former yokes 45.

rThe blank is advanced from the infolding station by means of conveyor belt G and is operated on by folder bars 55 and 55I (Figs. 2 and 4) which serve to fold the corner sections f of the blank against the end wall sections of the blank. In thus advancing the blank between said folder bars 55 and 55 the blank is delivered to the transfer section in the condition indicated by dotted numeral Iii; the blank then being in the condition illustrated by Figure 16. The folder bars 55 and 56 are supported by and secured to transfer table 63 which is secured to frame I.

From the transfer table 63 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) the box blank is advanced by conveyor belt 59 at right angles to the previous 'direction of travel. Conveyor belt 55 is driven and supported by rolls 51 and 5E. Roll 51 is secured to shaft 58 journaled in frame I; and roll 60 is secured to shaft 3l journaled in frame I. Roll 84, journaled in frame I, is provided to support the belt at the adhesive applying station. The blank in leaving the transfer table 63 passes under a pair of guide bars which are supported by transfer table 63 and folder bars 16. The said guide bars 15 serve to hold the blanks against the conveyor belt while the blanks are being advanced.

While each blank is being conveyed forward adhesive is applied thereon to predetermined areas (marked in Figure 18) by pads 12 and 13 fastened to wheels 1I fixed to shaft 10 journaled in bearings 14 which are secured to frame I. Adhesive is applied to said pads 12 and 13 by causing them to contact adhesively coated roll 15 journaled in adhesive reservoir 64 secured to frame I. The said roll 15 is coated with adhesive by causing it to rotate in liquid adhesive contained in the reservoir 6x4.

The adhesively treated blank is then carried forward to folding bars 16 which fold the blank on lines i and 1c (Fig. 18), with the result that the adhesively treated areas n: will contact corresponding areas of the corner sections f of the blank and thus become secured thereto. When the blank has been operated on by folder bars 16 in the conventional manner, the fabrication of the blank is complete; thus forming a box in :dat folded condition ready to be set up for use.

It will be obvious that the adhesive may be applied to certain areas of the corner sections f instead of applying the adhesive to the side wall end sections r as shown by x in Figure 18.

It will be readily understood, without need of illustration, that any suitable motor may be employed for operating the machine, and that suitable gearing is employed in practice to cause the various rolls and shafts to rotate at uniform peripheral speed to effect travel o-f the blanks through the machine and to operate the various devices which act on the blanks in the sequence described.

The operation of the various parts of the machine having been described, further explanation of the operation of the entire machine will be unnecesary.

While the invention includes the Vcombined instrumentalities above mentioned, I wish it to be understood that I consider the aforesaid means not only combinatively novel, but insofar as I am aware, certain of the devices going to make up such means are new in less combinations than the whole and some capable of individual use.

The blank and box illustrated by Figures 8 to 23 inclusive, are shown merely for the purpose of explaining the method and machine herein described and claimed. There are many other Well known types of boxes which my improved method and machine are adapted to produce efciently and at high speed.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The method of making boxes from blanks which are cut and scored to provide a bottom section, a pair of rectangular side wall sections having a triangular side wall end section at `each end thereof, a pair of rectangular end wall sections, each having corner sections crease-hinged to their ends, said method consisting of first folding said side wall sections and side wall end sections and corner sections to vertical position, then bending the side Wall sections inwardly toward the bottom section while simultaneously bending the side Wall end sections outwardly, then applying vertical pressure to fold the side Ywall sections against the bottom section and to doublethe side wall end sections against the side Wall sections, then folding the end wall corner sections inwardly against the corresponding end v wall sections, thereafter applying adhesive to predetermined areas of the blank, and then folding the end wall sections inwardly to lie parallel with the bottom section.

2. The method of making boxes from blanks which are cut and scored to provide a bottom, a pair of side walls including a triangular side wall end section at each end of the side walls, a pair of end walls each having corner sections crease-hinged to their ends, said method consisting of first folding said side walls and side wall end sections and corner sections to vertical position, then folding the side walls inwardly toward the bottom section while simultaneously bending the side wall end sections outwardly, then applying vertical pressure to fold the side walls against the bottom while at the same time doubling the side wall end sections against the side walls, then folding the end wall corner sections inwardly against the corresponding end walls, thereafter applying adhesive to predetermined areas of the blank, and then folding the end walls inwardly to lie parallel with the bottom.

3. The method of making boxes from blanks which are cut and scored to provide a bottom, a pair of side walls having foldable triangular end sections, a pair of end walls having foldablev corner sections at each end thereof, the said method consisting of folding opposite side wall `margins to upright position, then simultaneously bending the side walls inwardly while bending the end sections thereof outwardly, then applying vertical pressure to fold the side walls against the bottom while folding the side wall end sections against the corresponding side walls, then folding the corner sections against the end walls,

thereafter applying adhesive to predetermined areas of the blank, and then folding opposite ends of the blank inwardly to lie parallel with the bottom.

4l.. The method of making boxes from cut and scored blanks, consisting of first folding side wall sections and side wall end sections and corner sections to vertical position, then folding the side wall sections inwardly toward the bottom section while simultaneously bending the side wall end sections outwardly, then applying vertical pressure to fold the side walls against the bottom section of the blank and to double the side wall end sections against the said side wall sections, then folding end wall corner sections inwardlyT against corresponding end wall sections, thereafter applying adhesive to predetermined areas of the blank, and then folding the end wall sections inwardly to lie parallel with the bottom section of the blank.

5, In the method of making folding boxes from prepared blanks having rectangular areas which are scored to provide side walls having tri angular end sections; the process of folding, comprising folding the side walls and triangular end sections to vertical position, then bending the side walls toward each other while simultaneously bending the triangular side wall end sections outwardly, and then applying vertical pressure to fold the side walls downwardly while at the same time doubling the triangular end sections downwardly against the corresponding surfaces of the side walls.

6. The method in the making of folding boxes from prepared blanks, consisting of folding opposite side margins of the blank to upright position, then bending portions of the said margins inwardly while simultaneously bending other portions of the margins outwardly, and then applying pressure to fold the inwardly bent portions to horizontal position while doubling the outwardly bent portions against the inwardly folded portions,

'7. The method in the making of folding boxes fromvprepared blanks, consisting of folding opposite side margins of the blank to upright position, then bending portions of the said margins inwardly while simultaneously bending other portions of the margins outwardly, and then applying pressure to fold the inwardly bent portions to horizontal position and doubling the outwardly bent portions against the inwardly folded portions.

8. In a machine for making folding boxes from blanks which are cut and scored to provide a bottom, a pair of side walls having foldable triangular end sections, a pair of end walls having foldable corner sections at each end thereof, the said machine comprising, a blank carrying device, means for folding opposite side wall margins of the blank to upright position, folder plates for bending the side walls inwardly, folder arms for bending the side wall end sections outwardly, folder yokes for applying vertical pressure to fold the side walls against the bottom of the blank and for folding the side wall end sections against the corresponding side walls, folder bars for folding the corner sections against the end walls, adhesive applying mechanism to apply adhesive to predetermined areas of the blank, and folding means for folding opposite ends of the blank inwardly to lie parallel with the bottom.

9. In a machine for making folding boxes from prepared blanks, comprising a blank carrying device, means for folding opposite side wall margins of the blank to Vertical position, folder plates for bending side wall sections inwardly, folder arms for bending side wall end sections outwardly, folder yokes for applying vertical pressure to fold the side walls against the bottom and for folding the side wall end sections against the corresponding side walls, folder bars for folding the corner sections against the end walls, adhesive applying mechanism for applying adhesive to predetermined areas of the blank, and folding means for folding opposite ends of the blank inwardly to lie parallel with the bottom.

10. In a machine of the character described, blank carrying mechanism, devices for folding opposite margins of the blank on longitudinal lines to vertical position, folder plates for bending opposite portions of the margins inwardly,

Vfolder arms to engage other opposite portions of the margin to bend them outwardly, vertically operating folder yokes to press the inwardly bent portions of the margins to horizontal position and to double the outwardly bent portions of the margins against the inwardly folded portions of the blank.

1l. In a machine of the character described, devices for folding opposite margins of the blank on longitudinal lines to vertical position, folder plates for bending opposite portions Aof the margins inwardly, folder arms to engage other opposite portions of the margin to bend them outwardly, vertically operating folder yokes to press the inwardly bent portions of the margins to horizontal position and to double the outwardly bent portions of the margins against the inwardly folded portions of the blank.

MELVIN H, SIDEBOTHAM. 

